Boston College’s baseball team began Atlantic Coast Conference play with a narrow 8-7 victory over No. 24 Miami on Friday night in Miami. The win brings Boston College to an 8-5 record overall and a 1-0 mark in the ACC, while Miami falls to 11-3 and 0-1 in conference play.
A.J. Colarusso started on the mound for the Eagles, pitching three innings and recording two strikeouts but allowing five earned runs. Cesar Gonzalez relieved him, also pitching three innings and matching his career high with six strikeouts. Chase Hartsell and John Kwiatkowski then took over before Sean Hard entered in the ninth inning. Hard pitched three scoreless innings, allowed only one hit, and struck out two batters.
Miami took an early lead by scoring twice in the first inning with a single to left field. In the second inning, they extended their advantage to 5-0 after hitting a three-run home run to deep center.
Boston College responded in the third inning when Ty Mainolfi doubled down the left field line, driving in Owen DeShazo from second base. Nick Wang followed with his fourth home run of the season, reducing Miami’s lead to 5-4.
The Hurricanes added another run in the bottom of the third with a single to right field. Both teams’ pitchers held steady until Miami scored again in the seventh inning with a single to center that brought home another runner.
Wang cut Boston College’s deficit back to two runs with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, allowing Julio Solier to score from third base.
In the ninth inning, Boston College tied the game at seven runs apiece after Luke Gallo drove in a run with a single to right field and Kyle Wolff hit a sacrifice fly.
Sean Hard retired two batters quickly in Miami’s half of the ninth before allowing a single but ended the threat by striking out his next opponent, sending the game into extra innings.
Both teams failed to score in the tenth inning. In the eleventh, Boston College loaded the bases and scored what proved to be the winning run when Esteban Garcia reached on a dropped third strike that allowed Solier to cross home plate following an errant throw.
Hard secured victory for Boston College by retiring three straight batters after issuing a walk at the start of Miami’s half of the eleventh inning.
The series continues Saturday night as Boston College faces Miami again at 6:00 p.m., airing on ACC Network Extra.
